Bayelsa State Government has said that four household relatives of a coronavirus index case in the state have tested positive for the virus, bringing the total figure in the state to five.
Co-chairman of the state task force on COVID-19, Dr Inodu Nathaniel, confirmed this at a news conference on Friday in Yenogoa.
Nathaniel, who is the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, said the four confirmed cases were among seven samples sent to the Irrua Reference Laboratory in Edo for the test.
He said the four confirmed cases, who had since self-isolated, have been evacuated to the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) isolation centre for management and close monitoring.
The cases were part of those confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control early Friday.
Nathaniel, however, said that other samples, including that of a health worker, who provided direct clinical care to the index case, tested negative.
“All the contacts of the confirmed cases will adequately line listed and followed up, including necessary environmental decontamination.
“Samples will be collected from their high-risk contacts, while risk communication and community engagement will continue unabated as usual,’’ he said.
